Pumping valves and system



June 6, 1933.

M. MUEHL PUMPING VALVES AND SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I gnaw/"tor Mark)! J/qej/ 2 Sheets-Sheet M. MUEHL PUMPING VALVES AND SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1931 M .M M d a M lllll lullIIllll 4% If M June 6, 1933.

g pumping system in such manner that the con- The engine has a cylinder head 10 from Patented June 6, 1933 i ED STATE-S PATENr OFFICE.

Application filed July 30, 1931. Serial No. 554,127.

This invention relates to pumping valves air reservoir or as a receptacle for liquid,- and a. pumping system within which said i. e., to devise a system that may be operated "valves may be used. 1 The term pumping either as a gas compressing unit or as asucas here used is meant to include not only 'tion pump. 5 forcing or lifting a liquid but also the com Another object of the present invention pressing of a fluid. resides in the provision, in a gas compressing More particularly, the present invention system, of means for varying the compresis concerned with a pumping system formed sion values. I by converting a motor cylinder into a pump It is a still further object of my invention 0 cylinder as, e. g., by closing the usual valves to provide new and improved pumping valve of one cylinder of an internal combustion enassemblies, especially such as-may be utilized gine out of operation and then adding spefor converting a motor into a pump; and, in cial equipment to convert said cylinder into this connection, to employ a readily adjusta pump; Each downward piston stroke then able means for removing the load from the causes a suction and each upward stroke a pump 'byrendering the valve assembly inopdischarge. erative.

Similar pumping apparatus have hereto- The foregoing objects will be clarified and fore been proposed'but in those of which I further ob]ects will appear in the following am aware there has been used special engine detailed description and appended claims,

20 heads or other expensive equipment for acwhen-studied in conjunction with the accomcomplishing the conversion, and the valves panying drawings, wherein:

used have been inefficient .for pumping pur- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preposes. It, is, therefore, a primary object of ferred embodiment of my invention as apthe present'invention to provide means for plied to a vehicle propelled by an internal conveniently and inexpensively converting combustion engine.

a motor into a self-operated pumping unit. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view A further object is to provide a new and imof the engine seen in Figure 1, with the proved valve assembly for use with the pumping cylinder shown .in partial section. I pumping cylinder as, e. g., by mounting it in Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a por- 30 place of the usual spark plug. tion of the engine head of Figures 1 and 2.

In accordance with my invention the nor- Figure 4 represents a vertical section mal compression space adjacent the usual through the pumping valve assembly of Figvalves and spark plug is reduced in volume ures -l 3, said section being taken on the i by the insertion of a filler therein. The plane of line 4-4, Figure 5. p p 35 usual valves may then be placed out of'com- Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device mission and a pumping valve assembly of Figure 4. v

added. The filler preferably is detachable, Figure 6 constitutes a longitudinal central since it is an object of my invention to devise section through a modified form of pumping an arrangement whereby the particular cylvalve assembly. inder mayibe easily converted from motor With continued reference to the drawings, to pump and vice versa. The latter conver wherein like numerals are employed to des- 'sion is especially desirable where the motor ignate like parts, and with particular referconsis ts of the propelling engine of a vehicle once for the moment to Figures 13, the nuwhich it'may be desired to move through-reL meral 7 indicates generally the chassis of an "ati'vely, great distances upon the completion automotive vehicle which includes atone end ofa'pumping" operation. a conventional internal combustion engine 8 I :It is afurther object of this invention to and has mounted at its other end a reserincorp'orate a container in the improved voir 9.

tainer maybe utilized either as acompressed which, 'it will be observed, one of the spark plugs has been removed and replaced by a valve assembly 12. This valve assembly, which will be described in detail later, is connected with the reservoir 9 by a pipe line l3 and is designed to convert one of the cylmders into a pump, simply by inserting it into the corresponding spark plug hole after having adjusted the conventioned inlet and exhaust valves of that cylinder so that they will remain closed during operation of the engine.

In order to reduce the compression volume and to permit the development of higher pressures than those produced during the compression stroke under normaloperatlon of the engine, the converted cylinder (see Figures 2 and 3) is equipped W1th a filler 14. This filler comprises a piece of metal cheaply formed by casting it to the shape of one of the spaces or recesses 15 that are provlded in the head just above the bores and valves of the conventional cylinders. The filler may be secured in place in the head 1n any suitable manner, as by welding, but I prefer to use detachable countersunk screws 16 1n order that the filler may be removed whenever it is desirable to reconvert the engine into one with all cylinders operating on a combustion cycle to develop power. This is especially desirable whenever a pumping 10b has been completed and it then becomes necessary to move the vehicle efficiently under its own power to a relatively distant oint.

A hole 17 is formed in the filler, preferably in alignment with the spark plug hole, 111 order to permit the pumping action of the piston 18 to have full and free efi'ect upon the valve assembly 12. Each downstroke of the piston will suck fluid through the valve assembly into the cylinder, and every u pstroke will cause compression of the fluid. It should be observed that the conversion is made merely by adding the filler, and w1thout the use of any special and expensive head in lieu of the conventional head 10. After the conversion the compression space consists substantially wholly of the volume of the hole 17 plus any additional volume of passageways in the valve assembly.

The preferred formof valve assembly, 12, comprises a plug 19 designed to be screwed into a spark plug hole and provided with a through passageway 20, a valve-equipped body 22 screwed onto one end of the plug 19 and forming therewith a chamber 23, and a fluid connection in the form of a nipple 24 screwed into the body 22 and having a through passageway 25 therein. The body 22 has a vertical hole 26 forming part of the chamber 23 which complete chamber, together with the plug passage 20 and the filler hole 17. constitutes the entire compression space of the converted cylinder. The upper end of the nipple 24 is threaded at 27 for connection with the reservoir line 13.

In one portion of the block 22 there are provided, in alignment, a threaded socket 28 in the outer surface of the block, a cylindrical chamber 29 forming a valve seat at its junction with the chamber 23, a valve 30 fitted uponsaid seat, and a plurality of circularly arranged holes 32 establishing communication between the chamber 29 and the socket 28. The valve has a vertical stem 33 which slides freely in the block and projects therebeyond to receive a coil spring 34 and a nut assembly 35 for normally holding the valve against its seat. Upon each suction stroke of the piston 18 the valve 30 will automatically be drawn open against the yielding resistance of the spring, and of course will be closed on the piston upstroke.

A discharge valve unit is provided in another portion of the block The upper end of the hole 26 terminates in an enlarged socket 36 within which the nipple 24 is fitted, and the space. between the nipple and this hole is fitted with a check valve 37 which closes downwardly upon a raised ring seat 38. A compression spring 39 reacts between the nipple and the valve to normally urge the latter against its seat and to yieldingly permit the valve to be opened during each upward compression stroke of the engine piston. During this discharging operation the valve is raised against the nipple and. in order to provide free exit for the fluid, the valve has a set of circularly arranged vertical holes 40 and the lower edge of the nipple is scalloped as at 42.

When the valve assembly above described is placed in operation as, for example. when used as an air compressor, atmospheric. air is drawn in past the valve 30 during a downstroke of the piston of the converted cylinder, and then is compressed during the succeeding upstroke and discharged into the line 13 by way of the valve 37. The compressed air is stored in the reservoir 9, an additional check or stop valve 43 being provided in the line 13 between the reservoir and the nipple, if desired. The reservoir may be equipped with any necessary instruments such as pressure and liquid level gauges, as illustrated. An outlet line 4.4 is connected to the reservoir to permit the stored fluid to be put to any desired use such, for example, as spraying, cleaning out flowing wells, pumping up tires, lifting air jacks, etc.

\Vith reference to Figures 2 and 4, the valve pressure can be substantially doubled in this manner, and with the illustrated valve assembly, I have been able to develop over 300 lbs. pressure with a small four cylinder engine.

For the purpose of rendering the valve assembly inoperative because the pressure has reached adesired maximum, or for any other reason, such as taking the load off the pump ing cylinder during propulsion of the vehic e, there is provided a latch 47 for holding the inlet valve 30 in open position. This latch is substantially Z-shaped (see Figures 2 and 5) and is pivoted at 48 on the body block 22 so that the valve stem may be depressed and the latch swung about its pivot to bring one of its arms, 49, into engagement with the upper end of the stem. To release the latch it is only necessary to push the arm 49 to one side of the stem.

In some instances it may be desirable to fill the reservoir with liquid instead of compressed air. For example, one may be engaged in spraying an orchard and may have readily available only such water as may be found in nearby ditches. In such event, the nipple 24 or one similar to it may be screwed into the inlet socket 28, after which the tubing 13 is connected to said nipple. The valve 30 is unlatched at this time and the screws 46 must be in place. Thereupon, during operation of the engine, air is withdrawn from the reservoir to create a vacuum therein with the result that water may be drawn into the reservoir by way of the line 44 if the end of the latter is inserted in the ditch water. The air removed from the reservoir is of course discharged into the atmosphere via the valve 37.

A modified form of pumpin sembly is shown in Figure 6. sembly is more compact, the body 220 being slender and of light weight, as permitted by the use of a ball discharge valve 370 and a transversely arranged suction valve 300. The body has a plug portion 190 provided with fluid passage 200 and designed for reception in the spark plug socket. A plug 350 screws into one side of the body to press the spring 340 against the valve and to provide a guide for the valve stem 330. A number of holes 320 in the other side of the body provide intakes for suction of atmospheric air into the passage 200. The valve may have an auxiliary stem 50 for assisting in guiding it and for projection outwardly to cooperate with a latch. like that seen in Figures 2 and 5.

The ball discharge valve 370 seats by gravity and operates within a cage formed by drilling a vertical hole 52 in the upper end of the body 220. The wall of this'hole has grooves 53 cut therein to permit freedom of fluid discharge past the ball. A connection nipple 240 is screwed into the body adjacent valve asthe cage, this nipple being provided with a ere the as-' special arrangement of inclined holes 54 for preventing the ball from closing the outlet when said ball has been lifted during the discharge stroke of the pump piston.

' The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine cylinder having a compression space, a filler designed for insertion within said space to increase the pressures developed during operation, and a pumping valve assembly mounted in communication with said cylinder, said assembly including a suction valve unit having a predetermined cross sectional area of inlet gas flow, and means for varying said area to increase the inlet flow and thus increase the pressures developed during operation.

2. In a pumping valve assembly adapted for attachment as a unit upon a pump, a hollow plug designed to be fastened on the pump in communication with the working chamber thereof, a block assembly coupled to said plug and provided with a pair of passageways, the outer end of one of said passageways being designed for connection with a fluid conduit, and a pair of check valves mounted in said passageways to provide automatic control for the suction and discharge of fluid therethrough, and one of said passageways being formed by a plurality of circularly arranged holes extending between the seat for the corresponding valve and the outer surface of said block assembly.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN MUEHL. 

